270wsm
- Thread starter pnut123
- Start date
I think that it's pretty much dead in the water compared to it's great grandfather the 270 Win.
Nosler have just launched a 27 Nosler, I don't imagine that will be around in 10 years time.
270 Weatherby, 6.8 SPC, 270 WSM, most only have a limited following.
If it's an itch you want to scratch then go for it, but sadly, the 243W, 308W, 6.5x55, 270w and 30-06 fullfil most of our deerstalking needs and have rifles and factory ammunition readily available to train and hunt with.
Probably a rebarrel and handloading best option.
Nosler have just launched a 27 Nosler, I don't imagine that will be around in 10 years time.
270 Weatherby, 6.8 SPC, 270 WSM, most only have a limited following.
If it's an itch you want to scratch then go for it, but sadly, the 243W, 308W, 6.5x55, 270w and 30-06 fullfil most of our deerstalking needs and have rifles and factory ammunition readily available to train and hunt with.
Probably a rebarrel and handloading best option.
Odders
Well-Known Member
Expensive & hard to find ammunition & nigh on impossible to find brass, all for maybe 150fps increase in velocity?
Nah.
I shot a 300wsm for a couple of years - loads more felt recoil compared to 30-06 for a 5-7% increase in velocity.
Buy a .270 & you can shoot anything from 90-150gr bullets, with easy access to ammunition if you don't hand load.
Nah.
I shot a 300wsm for a couple of years - loads more felt recoil compared to 30-06 for a 5-7% increase in velocity.
Buy a .270 & you can shoot anything from 90-150gr bullets, with easy access to ammunition if you don't hand load.
Personally I’m not massive fan, they tend to struggle with feeding problems (we’ve had at least 3 at work for this very issue) and for the significant extra amount of powder burnt you only get around 100 fps more using 130 and 140 grain bullets, much better off going for .270 win or 7x64 imo
A failed calibre, as with other WSM and WSSM bright ideas.
Even if you reload, where are you going to find the brass ?
Unless you want to re-barrel it into something mainstream, tot up the costs, and if you are hard headed you might decide that you could use your money more wisely.
Probably one for the chop saw at the RFD to free up the slot, unless you can find a mug to take it off your hands, even pay you for the privilege.
Just saying.
Even if you reload, where are you going to find the brass ?
Unless you want to re-barrel it into something mainstream, tot up the costs, and if you are hard headed you might decide that you could use your money more wisely.
Probably one for the chop saw at the RFD to free up the slot, unless you can find a mug to take it off your hands, even pay you for the privilege.
Just saying.
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alberta boy
Well-Known Member
Even over here it's pretty much a dead cartridge . Ammo or brass is very hard to find and expensive when you do . The short mags , remington and winchester , are slowly fading away . They weren't bad cartridge designs , they just didn't do to much different than already existing ( and easier to feed ) cartridges and rifles .
AB
AB
It’s still quite popular here. I come across them once or twice a year. Probably because there’s quite a hardcore following of the .277 calibre in NZ.
However as per the comments above it is actually a complete waste of time when you consider the external ballistics of the .270 WSM versus the .270 Win, an exercise I undertook to prove a point and upset a few people along the way. More powder, more bang, more recoil, bugger all difference at the business end.
The .277 also has a miserable selection of projectiles.
Sorry to disappoint @pnut123, look elsewhere. I’d be inclined to go up a calibre to the .284s, several good options there, and every bullet under the sun.
However as per the comments above it is actually a complete waste of time when you consider the external ballistics of the .270 WSM versus the .270 Win, an exercise I undertook to prove a point and upset a few people along the way. More powder, more bang, more recoil, bugger all difference at the business end.
The .277 also has a miserable selection of projectiles.
Sorry to disappoint @pnut123, look elsewhere. I’d be inclined to go up a calibre to the .284s, several good options there, and every bullet under the sun.
My main go to rifle, used a lot as an estate rifle, always shot reloads through it, taking everything from Munties to very big Red stags, all with the same load, 130g pro hunter over 67gr of H4831, Federal Gold Match magnum. Cases are still available (found them on line in UK today while looking for 300 WBY cases).
Yes it has fallen out of fashion, (as did the 30-06 for a while)
Does is it produce higher velocities than a 270 win?, yes (although not much more with heavier weight bullets)
Does it have less felt recoil than 270 Win? yes (produces a more efficient burn)
Is it more expensive to run than 270 Win? Yes
would I change it NO
would I buy another Yes
would I buy another one if I didn't reload NO (£60 / box of 20
)
Bought mine second hand in 2005, taken hundreds of deer with it and it is still a tack driver. The Idea was to produce a magnum cartridge in a short action rifle.
It is one of those Marmite moments.
My first stalking rifle, I bought in the 80's was a Parker Hale M81 in .270 win
Yes it has fallen out of fashion, (as did the 30-06 for a while)
Does is it produce higher velocities than a 270 win?, yes (although not much more with heavier weight bullets)
Does it have less felt recoil than 270 Win? yes (produces a more efficient burn)
Is it more expensive to run than 270 Win? Yes
would I change it NO
would I buy another Yes
would I buy another one if I didn't reload NO (£60 / box of 20
)Bought mine second hand in 2005, taken hundreds of deer with it and it is still a tack driver. The Idea was to produce a magnum cartridge in a short action rifle.
It is one of those Marmite moments.
My first stalking rifle, I bought in the 80's was a Parker Hale M81 in .270 win
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Little bit of an unfair comparison between 300WSM and 30-06. The whole point of the 300 WSM was to produce magnum performance out of a short action rifle. The 300 Winchester Short Magnum was designed to produce the same performance as the older 300 Winchester Magnum. As such it, does produce more recoil than the lower powered 30-06. Best place for comparison is in the reloading manuals, don't forget, most velocities shown for magnum calibres are tested in rifles with 26" barrels to obtain maximum burn / velocity, where as non magnum cartridges are tested using 24" barrels. A lot of non magnum stalking rifles have barrel lengths between 20" and 22.5", so to get "on the box velocities" usually entails some "creative" load development and again, if you do not have a 26" barrel on your magnum version, you will not obtain "on the box" or book velocities. it's not as simple as "chucking a bit more powder in to go faster"
Odders
Well-Known Member
The flip side of that is the WSM rifles with shorter barrels using faster powder to ensure a complete burn, thus engendering greater felt recoil than the long action rounds they're intended to replicate.
I personally found the .300WSM more uncomfortable to shoot than either .300WM or .458 Lott, with a fast, hammering recoil which invariably unsighted the shooter.
Yes, I could hit a 12" gong at 600yds every time with my first shot but getting back on target for a second was less than instantaneous.
The WSM series were never designed to be used with shorter barrels, hence why all loads listed by the people who developed the cartridge ( Winchester) use slower burning powders such as H4831 or others with a similiar burn rate. For maximum velocity, the last grain of powder should be burnt as the round leaves the barrel. longer barrels allow a smoother pressure curve. As you correctly stated, a shorter barrel requires a faster burning powder which produces a steeper pressure curve and more recoil. Trying to develop a magnum load for a shorter barrelled rifle can be very dangerous and is a bit like looking for the holy grail. If you find it the route is dangerous. Trying to combine a shorter barrel with magnum pressures will always be difficult and rarely produces the performance the cartridge was designed to produce.
If your looking for a shorter rifle to use, any magnum calibre is not a good choice. In regards to recoil, whenever I shot my 270win, It always kicked like a mule and always had to re acquire the animal post shot. It doesn't matter what distance you shoot or if its targets or live game, the first shot is the one that counts.
As I said before Marmite, you either love them or hate them
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Yes, and where can you buy non-lead factory ammunition for it? Regards JCS
They crippled the 270wsm with a 1:10 barrel IMO. It would only eclipse the 270 Win with a faster twist barrel and by handloading with suitable bullets.
booradley
Well-Known Member
It’s not super popular in the states but I don’t believe it’s dead. I also don’t believe it’s that hard to find brass. I know short actions are a big deal to a lot of people but it doesn’t matter to me. I have one short action, a .243, the rest of mine are long actions.
I’ve had a .270 for over 45 years. I like the cartridge a lot and the vast majority of deer sized game I have killed has been with my .270. If I live long enough my 6.5x55 will catch up to it. I’ve had my Swede for ten years.
As far as the .270 WSM goes I can see having one if I ever get to the point where money is not an object. So the odds are tiny of me ever having one. If I ever get one it’ll have a 24-26” barrel, a faster twist than what comes on factory WSM’s and the receiver will be a long action. That will enable me to shoot the few seriously heavy for caliber .277” bullets without intruding on powder space. The only reason I’d have a .270 WSM is to shoot the 170 grain class of bullets.
I’ve had a .270 for over 45 years. I like the cartridge a lot and the vast majority of deer sized game I have killed has been with my .270. If I live long enough my 6.5x55 will catch up to it. I’ve had my Swede for ten years.
As far as the .270 WSM goes I can see having one if I ever get to the point where money is not an object. So the odds are tiny of me ever having one. If I ever get one it’ll have a 24-26” barrel, a faster twist than what comes on factory WSM’s and the receiver will be a long action. That will enable me to shoot the few seriously heavy for caliber .277” bullets without intruding on powder space. The only reason I’d have a .270 WSM is to shoot the 170 grain class of bullets.
Norma and Hornady, both available in UK
PS forgot Nosler (loaded rounds or components)
Grannysmith
Well-Known Member
Rifles are like fishing rods theres no such thing as a rifle that suits everyone
Try one you might like it!
Try one you might like it!
Had one for a while now (Winchester M70) and I’m a fan, liked the idea of having something a bit different. I load my own (Barnes 110gr TTSX with RS62) and was able to buy new Norma brass a few weeks ago. Have a DPT Mag moderator on it so recoil no issue. Accuracy is good, can shoot consistent 0.7“ groups. I’ve seen Winchester Extreme Point factory stuff around for £38/box if you don’t home load.
sold one not too long ago
provided customer with brass no problem (norma if I recall)
ammo in stock
lots of non lead options in .270
it doesnt stack up on paper though
very narrow component and powder selection that it can demonstrate gains
Same powder same bullet
270Win is more efficient
provided customer with brass no problem (norma if I recall)
ammo in stock
lots of non lead options in .270
it doesnt stack up on paper though
very narrow component and powder selection that it can demonstrate gains
Same powder same bullet
270Win is more efficient
Not surprised using RS60, the problem with ALL data is that it is different, one example is Norma data for 130g bullet with H4831, their max is 66.5 grains producing 3239 fps and 65grains of Rl22 producing 3396 fps, yet the max load they list is not the same as other data sources. By the way I bought the whole stock of H4831 from one shop, so I'm fine for a while, my load of 67gr H4831 produces 3350 over the chrono.
As mentioned in a post above, if you like it, use it.
If we followed the lines of only using the "most efficient" calibre, then a lot of long established cartridges should be confined to the museum .
Can you tell I'm bored? Normally I vary rarely post on SD, other than advertising, but all client services and commercial contract culling is stopped for me, so I have more time to waste
As mentioned in a post above, if you like it, use it.
If we followed the lines of only using the "most efficient" calibre, then a lot of long established cartridges should be confined to the museum .
Can you tell I'm bored? Normally I vary rarely post on SD, other than advertising, but all client services and commercial contract culling is stopped for me, so I have more time to waste
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